As travel starts picking up, Singapore will be announcing new VTLs (Vaccinated Travel Lanes) to various destinations in the coming weeks. One of these destinations is the Maldives whereby Singapore Airlines have already announced the opening of the VTL with the participating country come 16 December 2021.
With that, making scuba divers in Singapore are frantically booking their flights and packing their diving gear to hop on board as soon as possible.
Apart from the crystal blue waters enjoyed by its iconic floating resorts, what makes the Maldives such an attractive destination for scuba divers all over the world?
About the Maldives
The Maldives is an archipelago that consists of 1,200 islands with 26 atolls, coral reefs, and islands, making it one of the most famous remote destinations in the Arabian Sea for scuba diving.
While the Maldives has a tropical climate, many scuba divers from all over the world flock there during the months of January and April where the weather is calm and water visibility is the best. However, many experienced divers tend to visit during the months of August and November due to the higher chances of spotting larger and unique marine life such as manta rays.
5 Best Diving Spots in the Maldives and how to Get There
The Maldives is home to a plethora of diving spots around, each with its own offerings to divers of all levels.
Maaya Thila, South Ari Atoll
The Maaya Thila is considered one of the best diving spots in the Maldives and is home to some of the largest populations of whitetip reef sharks, giant trevally, barracuda and several species of stingrays. Many divers however flock here during the night where they can encounter the feeding frenzies – a sight not to be missed!
Level: Intermediate to Advanced
Sun Island, South Ari Atoll
If you are a huge fan of whale sharks, Sun Island offers some of the best waters in the world for swimming with these amazing underwater creatures. During weeks that build up to a full moon, many visitors from around the world will gather here to experience the whale sharks. With the southern tip of the island facing the Indian Ocean, this gives a great view to spot whale sharks.
Level: No scuba experience necessary as both scuba divers and snorkelers can experience swimming with the whale sharks
Broken Rock, South Ari Atoll
The name Broken Rock came as a result of the splitting of a canyon into two and is one of the most distinguishable dive sites in South Ari Atoll. Divers with experience are able to carefully maneuvre around the 50m canyon where they can navigate across soft coral and sea fans thriving along the canyon walls. Currents at Broken Rock may often be considered unpredictable and therefore scuba divers are required to have a sufficient amount of buoyancy.
Level: Intermediate
Five Rocks, South Ari Atoll
Very much like the Broken Rock, Five Rocks was formed by a pinnacle that divided into five pieces over the course of centuries. Located in Dhigurashu Kandu, the rocks can reach up to 12 meters below sea level to 40 meters on the seafloor. At Five Rocks, there is an abundance of coral reefs, reef fish, and whitetip reef sharks due to overhangs and ocean-swept currents. The scenic landscapes that this dive site has to offer are often an attraction to photographers as well.
Level: Intermediate
Fish Head, North Ari Atoll
Also known as Shark Point of Mushimasmingili Thila, Fish Head is considered one of the best shark dive sites in the whole of the Maldives. The pinnacle runs 35 metres deep and is full of caves and overhangs. At Fish Head, one may spot a couple of grey reef sharks during dives.
Level: Intermediate to Advanced
Travelling Around the Maldives Islands
As the Maldives comprises several islands, getting around can vary from what each island has in terms of facilities. In general, tourists normally get around by ferry from jetties, seaplane or by jet boats.
Air
Domestic Flights
When covering large distances, the air is often the go-to as there are 12 regional airports in the country, all of which are linked to the capital by regular flights. Domestic flights are mostly chartered by Maldivian and FlyMe.
Seaplanes
Seaplanes on the other hand are a much more preferred mode of air travel as they can land on waters and do not require a runway. Given that most of the country is covered by water, this is the most practical mode of transport as well. Tourists mainly patronise the Trans Maldivian Airways and Maldivian as their go to seaplane operators. They can mostly be accessed from the seaplane port next to Velana International Airport. While efficient, seaplane transfers can cost between S$480 to S$800, depending on the distance and deals that the resorts have with the service providers.
Sea
Boats
For shorter trips, boats are often the go-to. Most resorts or guesthouses in the Maldives often arrange a dhoni charter for their guests and depending on the duration, these boat rides can cost anywhere from S$500 to S$1000 per day.
Ferries
If traveling to inhabited islands, ferries are usually the best choice due to the national public ferry network that was established in 2010 whereby all inhabited islands in the Maldives are connected by ferry to at least one other habited location. Some popular providers include the Maldives Transport and Contracting Company or Atoll Transfer.
Speedboat
Speedboats are a great choice of transportation, especially when covering short distances in the fastest time possible. Many resorts charter speedboats to transfer their guests from Male International Airport and normally cost from anywhere between S$100 to S$600. Private speedboats can also be arranged with private companies which can be found online via Atoll Transfer.
Land
Not the most common of transportation choices in the Maldives (for obvious reasons) but various islands offer bus services such as in Male and Addu City. On the other hand, the island cities of Male, Fuvahmulah, and Hulhumale can be explored via private cars and motorcycles.
VTL From Singapore to the Maldives
As of 16 December 2021, Singapore Airlines will offer VTL flights to and from these destinations.
Currently, round trip tickets are going for about S$1400 on average for flights in December 2021. However, we recommend waiting out for a month or so as prices during off-peak months such as January can go to as low as S$580.
Individuals who are interested in visiting the Maldives may find more details on Singapore Airlines website where they can already book their trips.
Hotel Prices
Hotel prices may vary greatly depending on the location you wish to stay at. For instance, if you are looking to stay at a more slightly luxurious resort located on popular islands, rooms can cost you up to S$6000. However, if you are simply planning on scuba diving and less on the glitz and glamour, there are cheaper alternatives that can go as low as S$200 a night.
Additional Covid-19 Considerations
While VTLs will open for travelers hopping onboard Singapore Airlines flights come 16 December 2021, it is still important to also consider the overall situation of covid-19 within the country you wish to visit. Information such as the prevalence of the virus and vaccination rates in the country are extremely helpful in evaluating whether the period of travel is the safest.
As such, while many scuba divers are already planning to flock over to the Maldives, it is important to consider all of the factors above before packing your bags for your next scuba diving adventure.